Hardship: Dangote Foundation donates 80,000 bags of rice to vulnerable in Lagos
Ayodele Olalere
Nigeria’s foremost businessman, Aliko Dangote on Wednesday donated 80,000 bags of rice of 10kg to the vulnerable and less privileged in Lagos State.
The donation was made through his foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation Food Intervention Programme at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Dangote who was present at the ceremony was accompanied by Femi Otedola, the chairman, Geregu Power Station.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu thanked Dangote for ‘his show of humanity’ to the plight of Lagosians in the face of current economic hardship.
“ The donation of the rice has demonstrated what Dangote stands for, which is to show humanity,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor called on private sectors to emulate Dangote in partnering with the government to alleviate the hardship of the people.
“ Others of similar minds should rise up and emulate Dangote. The current situation calls for efforts from private organisations to come forward and be part of this,” Sanwo-Olu added.
In his remarks, Dangote said over the past 30 years, the foundation had been providing support to the Muslims during Ramadan. However, in view of the current economic hardship Nigerians are facing, it decided to extend the support to all Nigerians irrespective of religious background.
He added that the foundation had , last week, donated bags of rice to Kano residents but noted the donation to Lagos was the biggest.
He noted that a total of One million bags of rice would be donated to the 36 states of the federation by the foundation which would be shared to all the 774 local governments across the country by the end of Ramadan period.
The Group Executive Director, Commercial Operation, Dangote Industries Limited, Fatima Dangote said the rice would be distributed to the needy.
“We have been doing this for a while but we didn’t publicize it because our chairman believes this is between him and God but this year we decided to publicize it so that we can encourage and inspire others to do so . This is something that others need to put their hands on to ease the tough times,”she said.
She added: “There are many other things the Dangote Foundation is also doing. We are also serving 2,500 bread all over Lagos daily. We started this from 2020 since Covid-19 and there is no way we can pull out of this.”
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya said the donation came at the right time ‘ because things have been difficult for Nigerians.’
“ We can not do this alone, we need the private sector to collaborate with us,” she said.